First and foremost that at least part of the weekend was spent in America for the first time in over three years and secondly that Sports Amnesia were able to watch the better part of the Tennessee-Indy shocker live on a big screen television set in Newark Airport.
Reporters questioned upon return to Birmingham International Airport, does it feel good to be back, even if it is or isn't home? Answer is: America is a very big and very dirty place but it wasn't as bad as we'd remembered. Airline food has improved and yes, circulation decreases on long trans-Atlantic flights.
SHOCKER ONE:
Oh yes, we could be real pissants and moan that we all knew this result was possible simply because the postseason is approaching and the Colts, as they do as traditionally as a turkey is stuffed for Thanksgiving, are choking. And it is true, the majority of this match was seen in the Newark airport lobby waiting to go to the UK via Holland with very tired eyes, little energy and a vague and simple hope for another Colts loss.
The story officially of course, is that a wind-aided 60 yard field goal with seven seconds left won this game. That, in and of itself is amazing and shocking and perhaps even aweing but let's face it - are we going to know Rob Bironas any better next year at this time as we did last year at this time?
"The guy made a heck of a kick," losing quarter I'm Not Archie Manning said.
Bigger story, and a name we WILL be thinking of for several years to come is Vince Young who led his team on a 95 yard -11 play drive to give the Titans the lead and who is now 5-4 in his rookie season with a team that well, no one expected much out of. Young's stats were Vickesque in that he as 12 for 25 for 163 yards pasing but rushed for 78 yards on 9 carries.
And on the other hand, the way this season has gone to date, who knows, perhaps a late season swoon by the Colts is a harbinger of postseason success.
SHOCKER TWO:
The Return of Edgerrin James was not, in typical parlance, shocking perse, but most had been waiting the better part of 4 months to see him show his auld style and perhaps all along it was simply a matter of getting warmed up? In any event, the 115 yards rushing, (the 50th 100 yard rushing game of his career) his first big effort of the season combined with 0 touchdowns, was odd considering his teammate Marcel Shipp ran for three touchdowns even though he had only 21 yards rushing total.
Add to that the performance of Matt Leinart (15 of 24 186 yards a TD pass and no interceptions) and you had the makings of a very strong performance from unlikely sources. The Cards are now 2-2 since their bye week but face a very difficult remaining schedule against Seattle, Denver, the 49ers and Chargers respectively so don't go looking for any miracle finishes.
SHOCKER THREE
Although likely buried amid the games that followed, the Bengals Thursday night victory over the once-indominable Ravens means that the Bengals are officially back and albeit not likely to overcome the Ravens for the title, at least jockey for position in the AFC Wildcard chase.
Like the exposure of the Colts weak link, defence against the run, this victory underscored the futility of the Ravens offence regardless of who is the whiz behind the decisions. Yes, the Bengals, traditionally this season one of the league's weakest defences, shut out the Browns the week before, but this pathetic display by the Ravens - not just losing, not just seeing the defence humilated by a sandlot play, but losing whilst crossing midfield only once in three quarters.
Notice served. The Ravens defence may be formidable but when they face a team in the postseason that is a little more balanced, they will be knocked out quicker than a flat-chested bird in a wet tee-shirt contest.
Before anyone gets too hepped up on the new-look Bengals defence, remember these last two performances came against two of the worst offences in the NFL. The final weeks, facing much heartier and potent offences, will probably show them yet again for what they are, doomed to a quick winter.
Random Thoughts
Tell those cats in Green Bay about your global warming theories and they might just laugh in your face.
The surprisingly 7-5 Jets continue to scraggle out a chance for a postseason spot. Their remaining schedule; Bills at home, at Minny, at Miami and home against the Raiders means they have every realistic hope of making it. The thing to remember is that the Chiefs, who coughed up another fur ball of a loss this week, gave the Jets a 4th round pick for Herm Edwards. If you consider that had they not done so, Eric Mangini would still be helping Belichick coaching the Pats, the Jets should have given the Chiefs a 4th round pick just to take Edwards off their hands.
Denver may be in a lose-lose situation. Think there's any chance the rookie will learn how to play in the NFL in the next 4 weeks? Think there's any chance they will go back to the Snake now that they've benched him? Broncos remaining schedule is hardly a breeze - at Sandiego, at Arizona, hosting the Bengals and hosting the 49ers. Actually, they should go 2-2 at least and still make the playoffs but don't look for any fantastic finishes. Chances are Broncos fans will bemoan the fact that Jay Cutler wasn't brought on sooner. Given how poorly the Bronco offence fared in the first several weeks of the season yet they still won, what harm might have come of them had Cutler started earlier giving him more experience for the playoffs?
At the moment, here's how I rank the AFC team chances for postseason:
1. Indy
2. SD
3. Baltimore
4. New England
WC: Denver and NY Jets.
Denver at New England, NY Jets at Baltimore.
New England at SD, NY Jets at Indy.
SD at Indy.
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